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Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Casting Crowns, multiple Grammy and Dove Award winning group, will headline a 14 city tour entitled, "Casting Crowns Christmas Celebration." The tour is set to begin November 28. Joining Casting Crowns for this Christmas celebration will be: Natalie Grant, Denver and the Mile High Orchestra, Avalon, Michael English, and Radio Disney favorite pureNRG.

For more information on Casting Crowns and their Christmas tour click here.

Monday, September 29, 2008

I can't begin to tell you how impressed and moved I was during yesterday's worship service. My pastor, Dr. Jody Hice, delivered a sermon that moved the audience and endorsed Sen. John McCain. A number of members from the media were present and heard a message that, from scripture, showed were each candidate stood on two of the most important issues of morality - abortion and homosexuality.

Today, Jody has been on both NPR and Fox News. To see the video of Jody's interview with Megyn Kellye click here.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

This Sunday, September 28, is an important Sunday in many churches across the country. These churches will be participating in what has been initiated by the Alliance Defense Fund as Pulpit Freedom Sunday. During the services, the pastors of these churches will be defying the IRS and will endorse a candidate for President of the United States.

According to the ADF website, "The Pulpit Initiative is a legal effort designed to protect the First Amendment rights of pastors in the pulpit. As part of the effort, pastors participating in Pulpit Freedom Sunday on Sunday, September 28, 2008, will deliver to their congregations sermons of their own that apply Scripture to the subject of candidates for government office. The sermons are intended to restore a pastor’s right to speak freely from his pulpit without fearing censorship or punishment by the government. By standing together and speaking with one voice, it is our hope to recapture the rightful place of pastors and churches in American life."

Please be in prayer for these pastors and their congregations as they strive to return freedom of speech to all 501c(3) organizations. As one pastor in Minnesota has said, the ACLU may have the IRS on their side but pastors have the Constitution on theirs.

For more information on what the Pulpit Initiative is and is not click here.

Legendary voice of the Georgia Bulldogs, Larry Munson,has hung up the mic and officially retired. Because of declining health, Munson quit doing road games and has only worked two home games this season. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Munson said in a statement, "I can't express enough my deep feelings toward the Georgia football fans. They've been so friendly especially during this most recent period time. I feel I owe them so much more than I can give."

During last night's practise, Georgia headcoach Mark Richt said, "What do you say when a legend steps down? I'm grateful for the opportunity I've had to be associated with him. It's been an honor to work with one of the legendary college football broadcasters of all time. I hope he enjoys his full retirement and wish him the very best..."

I, for one, will miss his voice and his unique play calling ability. The Bulldog nation wishes you all the best, Larry!!

Monday, September 22, 2008

What was the reason the Democratic Carter Administration gave for setting up the Department of Energy? We have spent billions of dollars in support of this agency and I'm willing to bet that no one reading this post will remember the reason given.

In 2008, the Department of Energy's budget is $24.2 billion per year. They have 16,000 federal employees and 100,000 contract employees. Have you remembered the reason yet? Well, it's very simple really --

I'm voting Democrat because I believe the government will do a better job of spending my money than I would

I'm voting Democrat because freedom of speech is fine as long as nobody is offended by it.

I'm voting Democrat because when we pull out of Iraq I trust that the bad guys will stop whatever they're doing because they now think we're good people.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe that people who can't tell us if it will rain on Friday CAN tell us that the polar ice caps will melt away in ten years if I don't start driving a Prius.

I'm voting Democrat because I'm not concerned about the slaughter of millions of babies so long as we keep death row inmates alive.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe that business should not be allowed to make profits for themselves. They need to break even and give the rest away to the government for redistribution as THEY see fit.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe three or four pointy headed elitist liberals need to rewrite the Constitution every few days to suit some fringe kooks who would NEVER get their agendas past the voters.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe that when the terrorists don't have to hide from us over there, when they come over here I don't want to have any guns in the house to fight them off with.

I'm voting Democrat because I love the fact that I can now marry whatever I want. I've decided to marry my cow.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe oil companies' profits of 4% on a gallon of gas are obscene but the government taxing the same gallon gas at 15% is reasonable.

Friday, September 19, 2008

The price of everything is going up - gas, food, clothes - everything! Many Americans are looking at their budgets trying to find areas to cut in order to afford the necessities of life. One of the things Americans are cutting are their landlines - they are getting rid of their phones. They are not getting rid of their communication devices just those that are connected by a wire.

According to a new study released from The Nielsen Company, more than 20 million households (17% of the United States) are wireless substitutors - homes without landlines that rely solely on a mobile phone for their home telecommunications. That number is looking to increase to one in five U.S. households by the end of 2008.

Those that are cutting cord tend to:

Lower income - 59% have household incomes of $40,000 or less

Have smaller households - one to two residents

Move or change jobs regularly

Use their mobile phones more than their landlines (45% more)

The study revealed that cutting the landline isn't for everyone. Ten percent of those that went to mobile only ended up going back to their landline service. Some of the reasons for going back ranged from needing a landline for satellite television to needing one for their secruity system.Click here or more information the Nielsen study and to download their white paper.

What do you do if you feel that the local gas station is taking advantage of the current situation in Texas and is gouging you at the pump? Well, if you are a resident of Georgia, Governor Sonny Perdue as issued his anti-gouging order and you now have some ammunition to fight with.

If you feel that you are being gouged keep your gas purchase receipt.

With your camera phone, take a picture of the gas price and your purchase total.

In the Atlanta area call (404) 651-8600

Outside Atlanta call 800-869-1123

Go online to www.consumer.georgia.gov

Bill Cloud, spokesman for the state's consumer affairs office, said that there wasn't a gas shortage but more a run on gas. "Believe me, if everybody goes out and buys gas, you're going to run out of gas, " he said. "If you've got gas and don't need to go on a trip, I'd wait to get gas later in the week."

Thursday, September 11, 2008

I always enjoy Phil Cooke. There are many times when he will post an article on his blog that will cause me to think. But the video that he posted today - I just couldn't believe that people were still doing this. No wonder the world thinks we not relevant.

It's hard to believe that it was 7 years ago that the United States suffered it's worst attack. I remember like it was only yesterday where I was on that fateful day. At the time I was working with In Touch Ministries as a media representative. Me and another rep for the ministry were attending a religious broadcasters regional meeting in Michigan. Everything seemed to be normal - we arrived on that Monday afternoon and caught up with many of the radio stations that aired Dr. Stanley's radio program. We worshiped with Charles Billingsley and Selah and heard a powerful message.

The next morning, after a good night sleep, I got up and got ready for another good day - or so I thought. As I was making my way to the dining hall for breakfast, I saw a number of my colleagues gathered around the only television at the conference center watching as the first plane hit the World Trade Center. It was surreal! We all started discussing why possibly could have gone wrong - the pilot drunk, systems on board not working, etc. Then it happened - the second plane hit! At that point we all knew - this was no mistake, this was no error. This was an attack.

My partner and I went into full emergency mode. I called the ministry and asked if Dr. Stanley was OK (he was on vacation in Canada) and they told me he was unable to get across the border. My partner started to call for a rental car to get us home. I started to get a number of calls from family and friends knowing that I was away on business. When my wife called in a little panic because she heard from her folks - stuck in Detroit unable to finish their trip to Seattle. Throughout this morning, Erwin Lutzer, pastor of Moody Church in Chicago, Illinois, gather all the attendees to pray for those who were resoponsible, pray for the victims and their families, pray for our leaders and their response to the situation. I will always respect Dr. Lutzer for his sensitivity to that situation.

The drive home was exhausting. We were able to get my in-laws in Detroit and make it back to Atlanta early the next morning. At In Touch, the staff was busy trying to get Dr. Stanley back to Atlanta so he could be ready to minister at First Baptist, Atlanta. That situation was a miracle in of itself. Some how Mission Aviation Fellowship was able to secure permission to fly to Montana, where Dr. Stanley was able to get to, and pick him up and fly him back to Atlanta. Remember, the airspace over the United States was closed - no flights, nothing! God knew exactly what needed to be accomplished and it was done!

As I think back to the weeks that followed and the ouutpouring of love and concern; how the churches were filled to overflowing; how the country became united behind one cause, I'm saddened to see where we are now. We are in the middle of an election where each side is blaming each other, accusing each other. What happened to that unity? What happened to all those who looked to God for support and comfort? Why have we forgotten the sacrifice, the heroism?

Let's not forget 9/11. Let this day be a reminder that we are not in control of the world around us, but we know who is. Let's continue to look to God for support, comfort and peace in a time where all that is in short supply.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

I was reminded of how animal trainers train an elephant. It's pretty amazing how this is accomplished. You would think that one of the strongest animals on the planet would be hard to control, but the method is pretty amazing.

It all starts when the elephant is young. The young elephant is shackled to a tree and strong iron chains. When the beast tries to free it self it feels the resistance. Over time the chains are replaced by smaller and weaker restraints, but enough of a restraint that keeps the animal from coming loose. This training takes place of a long period of time and before long the elephant is restrained by just twine and a wooden stake. What the trainer has done is defeat the will of the elephant and tricked it to think that it cannot free itself when in reality the elephant can easily free itself with just a slight tug on the line.

This process reminds me of how sin entraps us and tricks us into thinking that we are defeated when in reality the power Christ has given us through the Holy Spirit enables us to defeat the sin in our lives. What power does sin have over you today? What lies have you been tricked into believing are true and has you "chained"? According to the Scriptures, the power of Christ within us is greater than anything Satan can throw at us. All it takes is a little "tug" at the twine to be free.